My reasons for such a sweeping statement are manifold. Barack Obama is indicative of the typical 'new' Democrat. He doesn't believe in wearing a lapel pin of the United States flag. Of course he wears one now because his explanation for not wearing one didn't get him very far in the public opinion department. He doesn't place his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. I'm sure there's video of him doing so now, but first there was video of him deliberately NOT placing his hand over his heart while the National Anthem was being sang. There is a popular video clip showing Barack Obama, Bill Ruchardson and Hillary Clinton on stage while the National Anthem is being sang (sang terribly, I might add). Both Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton have their hands placed over their heart during the performance. Barack Obama does not place his hand over his heart at any time during the entire performance.

He cannot honor our country, but he wants to be our President.

Personally, it is an automatic reflex for me to place my hand over my heart both during the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, but then I learned that in school. Of course, I went to American schools as a child. Barack Obama went to foreign schools, including a Muslim school in Indonesia, as a child. Perhaps, if I had went to an Islamic school as a child, then I wouldn't place my hand over my heart during the National Anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance, and I might not care to wear a lapel pin of the United States flag.

Barack Obama is also a typical politician. When people didn't buy his story about not wearing a flag pin on his lapel, he immediately became an ardent flag pin wearing Senator. Either he believes in wearing one as a symbol of his patriotism or he doesn't. He said he didn't believe in it but he wears one because he is a liar. Just as he now makes sure everyone sees him cover his heart with his hand during the singing of the National Anthem. I don't want him to do it because he is a politician and wants someone's vote. I would prefer that he love his country and do it as a symbol of his dedication.

He is, after all, running for the President of this country. Barack Obama should at least be able to demonstrate, in some manner of which we can all agree, that he loves this country.

Instead, he gives speeches about getting rid of our entire nuclear arsenal, stopping our work on a missile defense system and in dramatically decreasing our Future Combat Soldier program. That sounds more like an agenda from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela or Syria than in a candidate for President of the United States of America.

As an Illinois legislator, Senator Barack Obama avoids risky votes on abortion, crime and guns by voting 'present' rather than taking a position by voting an actual 'yes' or 'no'. It would seem that simply voting 'present' defeats the very purpose of being a legislator whose job it is to look after the will of the people.

The state of Illinois has elected Democrats like Barack Obama for over 40 years and they are no better off than they were 40 years ago. In fact, recent reports show that the Illinois poverty rate leads the midwest. The Land of Lincoln ranks worst in Midwest states for poverty, job loss, housing affordability, and educational spending.

Illinois' ranked 48th out of 50, ahead of only Michigan and Ohio, in economic performance for the ten year period from 1996-2006. Illinois was 44th in the nation in per capita personal income growth and 47th in job growth over the same ten year period. In the Illinois public school system only 6 of every 100 high school freshman will go on to earn a bachelor's degree. Illinois neither produces college graduates nor does it attract them.

That's some extremely dismal performance. Considering that, in 1997, Barack Obama was first sworn in as a part time Illinois State Senator. One would think that in 9 years that Senator Barack Obama could do something to improve his home state before professing some God-like power he posesses and will use to save the entire country. He should use those powers to help Illinois.

One day the people of Illinois will figure out that the Barack Obama's and Jesse Jackson's of the world are all talk and no substance. You can't talk your way out of poverty. At some point in time someone has to get a job and become personally responsible for their situation before their conditions will improve.

Another consideration is the fact that Barack Obama is very, very liberal. He is more liberal than Ted Kennedy, who was, at one time, widely considered to be the most liberal sentaor in Washington. I don't think America would survive the appointment of 3 liberal Supreme Court justices. The first thing to go? Gun rights, which barely survived scrutiny by the existing Supreme Court. One more liberal justice and everyone would be turning their guns in to the liberals. Fo what reason, circular logic? Washington D. C. has had, for many years, the strongest gun control legislation in the country. Washington D. C. also has some of the highest violent crime and murder rates in the country. Gun control laws have no effect on crime because the criminals are already ignoring the law. Duh.